Apparatus for producing a tobacco rod



Fig. 2

4 sne'efs-sneet 1 W. RICHTER APPARATUS FOR PRQDUCING A TOBACCO RonSUCTON GENeRA-r MEANS I lg- Jan. 20, 1970 Original Filed Sept. 5, 1964/N VEN rop.-

Jan. 20, 1970 w. RICHTER 3,490,463

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TOBACCO ROD 6 9 Fig.5

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/N VEN TOR; h/f' Ky Bindu- '9 Y MM f ffm* Hfs ATTORNEY Jan. 20,-1970 1W. mCHTl-:R 3,490,463

PPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TOBACCO ROD original Filed Sept. s, 1964 l 4sheets-shamI s /NVE/VTOR! ma, @MUO- HS ATTORNEY Jan. 20, 1970 w. RICHTRAP.I JARMU'IS FOR PR'oDUC'NG A`flOBACco ROD original Filed sept. -sQ1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /N VENTOR:

United States Patent O M 3,490,463 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A TOBACCO RODWilly Richter, Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany, assignor to Hanni-WerkeKoerber & Co., K.G., Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany `Continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 394,364, Sept. 3, 1964, which is acontinuation-impart of application Ser. No. 854,306, Nov. 20, 1959. Thisapplication Oct. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 493,322

Int. Cl. A24c 5 /00 U.S. Cl. 131-66 21 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREAn apparatus for forming a wrapped tobacco rod comprises a belt forconveying a tobacco stream which contains tobacco in excess of thatrequired in the rod, a feed wheel having a peripheral groove whichreceives tobacco from the belt, a suction chamber for holding tobacco inthe groove along an arc of at least 90 degrees, a trimming device forremoving excess tobacco from the stream in the groove so that theremainder of the stream forms a rod, and a wrapping mechanism whichapplies a wrapper around the tobacco rod.

This is a continuation of my application Ser. No. 394,364, led Sept. 3,1964, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in part of my applicationSer. No. 854,306, led Nov. 20, 1959, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for making atobacco rod for use in cigarette production.

In certain cigarette rod making machines in which a tobacco distributoris disposed beneath the rod forming mechanism, a tobacco rod is fed tothe rod forming mechanism along a path in which it reverses thedirection of its movement by travelling in a vertical plane through anarc of 180 degrees. Such machines include a feed wheel and a tobaccostream feeder belt which surrounds half the span of the feed wheel. Thewheel is provided with a peripheral forming channel or groove andcooperates with the feeder belt to form a duct for the tobacco stream.

One object of the invention is to provide an improvement in such feedwheels, and the improvement consists essentially in that theintroduction of tobacco into the forming channel andthe retention oftobacco in the forming channel is not effected by a conveyor belt orother mechanical means but by suction. ln some cases, compressed air isused to assist in delivering the tobacco stream or rod to the rodforming mechanism.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, devices may beprovided, preferably in the region of the suction feed Wheel, whichdepend on measured physical factors to directly or indirectly influencethe product or to control the effects or causes of variation in suchfactors.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of forming a cigarette rod which comprises continuously removinga substantially uniform quantity of tobacco from a distributor or asimilar source at a rate sufficient to form a tobacco stream whichcontains tobacco in excess of that required in the cigarette rod,feeding the tobacco on to a revolving wheel and retaining the stream bysuction at the periphery of the wheel, conveying the stream through aniangle of at least 90 degrees, removing excess tobacco from theperiphery of the wheel so that the remainder of tobacco forms a tobaccorod, and then wrapping the tobacco rod into a strip of paper to form acigarette rod. It is preferred to install and to construct the wheel insuch a way that the tobacco stream is held by suction while beingconveyed in 3,490,463 Patented Jan. 20, 1970 ICC a vertical plan'ebetween the uppermost and lowermost points of the wheel so that thestream adheres to the periphery of the wheel While travelling through anangle of substantially degrees.

'Ihe feed wheel preferably comprises a disc provided in its peripherywith a forming channel which communicates with a suction chamber and, ifdesired, with a compressed air chamber. This feed wheel may cooperatewith a tobacco conveyor, for example, with a conveyor belt, in such amanner that a portion of the tobacco stream is removed from the conveyorbelt by suction. A suitable trimming or levelling device, for example, acombing roller, may be disposed beyond the pick-up point to comb olfexcess tobacco from the stream carried by the feed wheel so that only atobacco rod of predetermined cross section corresponding to the crosssection of the forming channel at the trimming station is carriedforward by the feed wheel.

The quantity of tobacco to be conveyed in the forming channel may bevaried by displacing the side walls of the forming channel which sideWalls may be constructed as axially adjustable rings, or by altering thedistance between the trimming device and the bottom wall of the formingchannel so that the trimming device removes a greater or lesser portionof the tobacco stream which is being conveyed in the forming channel.

At distances corresponding to one or two cigarette lengths, the formingchannel may be provided with lateral bays or pockets. Because of thegreater volume of such pockets, more tobacco is sucked into them thaninto the remaining parts of the channel. Since such greateraccumulations of tobacco are subsequently compacted to equal in crosssection the cross section of a normal cigarette rod, the resulting rodmay yield cigarettes with portions of greater density at one or bothends.

The feed wheel may also be used purely as a conveyor device (e.g., whenall of the tobacco which is sucked up by the feed Wheel may be conveyedto a further stage). In such apparatus, the conveyor belt which feedstobacco to the forming channel may follow a part of the periphery of thefeed wheel in order to press the tobacco stream into the forming channelduring transfer until all of the tobacco received from the belt iseffectively held by suction.

If the constantly acting suction is increased, the tobacco sucked intothe forming channel can be compacted to a higher degree, so that theweight or density of the rod is increased. If the suction prevailing inthe suction chamber is increased and decreased alternatively, thestructure of the tobacco being subjected to suction will be more compactduring application of increased suction than during the period whendecreased suction is applied. In this way itis possible to producecigarettes with densely compacted portions at one or both ends, providedthat the trimming means is adjacent to a point of the periphery of thefeed wheel at Iwhich the suction is also operative to compact thetobacco rod.

According to a further feature of the invention, suction Imay becontrolled by a measuring device disposed, for example, beyond the rodforming mechanism and operating preferably with corpuscular radiation.Similarly, the invention covers the control of any factors iniiuencingthe rod formation, for example, the delivery of tobacco, by means of ameasuring device which is disposed in the region of the suction feedwheel.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will now beexplained with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an apparatus which is constructedin accordance with the invention, certain parts of the apparatus beingbroken away to illustrate various details.

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view illustrating the manner in which thefeed wheel is mounted on the machine frame.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic fragmentary front elevational view illustratinga modified feed belt which is adapted to press tobacco into the channelof the feed wheel.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view of a modified channel inthe feed wheel, showing a pocket in the channel.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section as seen in the direction ofarrows from the line A-A of FIG. 1 and illustrates various structuraldetails of the feed wheel.

FIG. 6 illustrates the upper portion of the structure shown in FIG. 5during removal of excess tobacco from the forming channel of the feedwheel.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section through the feed wheel and illustratesthe manner in which the channel forming rings may be adjusted by the useof shims.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section through the partition walls of amodified feed wheel.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevational View of the feed wheeland illustrates a perforated bottom wall having a screened area.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the feed wheel with the channelforming rings removed to show the openings which are adapted tocommunicate with suction and pressure chambers.

FIG. 11 is a diametral section through the structure of FIG. 10, showingfurther details of the feed wheel.

FIG. 12 shows a conventional measuring device, an adjusting device, anda control device whose fiap controls the degree of suction in thechannel of the feed wheel.

FIG. 13 shows another control device similar to that shown in FIG. 12.

FIGS. l and 2 illustrate a pneumatic conveyor in the form of a feedwheel or suction wheel 3 rotatably mounted on a horizontal shaft 2 whichis supported by an arm 18, the latter being fastened to a machineframe 1. A feed including a horizontal conveyor belt 4 (not shown inFIG. 2) is arranged with the upper run of the belt 4 adjoining thelowest part of the periphery of the feed Wheel 3. The uppermost part ofthe periphery of the feed wheel 3 is arranged beneath a reversing roller29 for an endless perforated belt 24 of a rod transfer means E (notshown in FIG. 2) which is a suction conveyor and may form part of anentry guide to a cigarette rod forming device. The horizontal lower runof the belt 24 passes under a suction chamber 25 which extends from thereversing roller 29 to a second reversing roller 28 of the transferdevice E thereby overlapping a paper strip P which is supported by thehorizontal upper run of a forming belt 5. Adjacent to the periphery ofthe feed wheel 3 and downstream of the point where the conveyor belt 4adjoins the feed wheel 3, there is disposed a levelling or trimmingdevice 23.

Provided in the arm 18 is a suction pipe 19 and a compressed air pipe20, both extending through the machine frame 1 and connected to sources(not shown) of suction air and compressed air respectively. One side ofa discshaped wheel body 7 is covered by a stationary cover 17 providedwith openings to which are connected flexible hoses 13', 14', 22. Thehose 13 communicates with the suction pipe 19. The hoses 14', 22'communicate with the compressed air pipe 20. At the inner side of thestationary cover 17, there is provided a suction chamber 13communicating with the hose 13 and a compressed air chamber 14communicating with the hose 14'. Blocks 21 and 21 extend between thesuction chamber 13 and the compressed air chamber 14 to divide anannular charnber 12 of the feed wheel 3 into two compartments positionedwith respect to the suction chamber 13 and the compressed air chamber 14in a manner to be described later. A bore 22 in the block 21 ispositioned beneath the reversing roller 29. One end of this borecommunicates with one of a series of radial passages 11 in the wheel 3and its other end communicates with the hose 22.

That portion of the annular chamber 12 which communicates with thesuction chamber 13 is continuous from the tobacco-receiving lowermostpoint of the feed wheel 3 to the uppermost point of the same (adjacentto the rod transfer means E). It might sufce in some cases if suction ismaintained along little more than one quarter of the peripheral span ofthe feed Wheel. Furthermore, the effect of suction may be reduced oreliminated in the zone adjacent to the trimming device. This can beachieved by installing in the suction chamber 13 a block 2lb oppositethe trimming device 23.

The mounting of the conveyor belt 4 may be modified so that its upperrun will have an arcuate portion engaging the lower part of the feedwheel 3, as shown in FIG. 3.

The feed wheel 3 comprises the wheel body 7 shown in FIG. 10. This wheelbody 7 is provided with the annular chamber 12 which is arranged toreceive the stationary blocks 21, 21.

Referring to FIG. 5, the radial passages 11 which are separated bypartition walls 15 and covered by a cylindrical perforated member 10(see also FIG. 9) forming the bottom screen wall of the forming channel6, connect the annular chamber 12 with the periphery of the wheel body7. Between the bottom screen wall 10 and the partition walls 15 a smallgap 16 is formed to allow for pressure equalization along the bottom ofthe forming channel 6 when compressed air or suction air is applied tochannel 6.

Two rings 9, 9 are fastened to the outer edges of the periphery of thewheel body 7 by means of screws 8, 8. The inner sides of these ringsdefine with the bottom screen Wall 10 an annular groove whichconstitutes the forming channel 6. If the inner sides of the rings 9, 9'are fiat, the channel 6 will have a constant width. If required,differently shaped rings 9, 9 may be used, as shown in FIG. 4, to formpockets 27 by providing the inner sides of the rings 9, 9' with recesseslocated opposite each other.

The trimming device 23 which may be adjustable radially of the wheel 3is shown in FIG. 6 in the form of a rotary brush. The position of this:brush determines the effective height h of the channel 6 through whichthe tobacco stream advances between the inner sides of the rings 9, 9'and the bottom screen wall 10.

The distance b lbetween the rings 9, 9 may be adjusted in the axialdirection of the wheel 3 by the use of shims 26, as shown in FIG. 7 forthe ring 9.

A modified arrangement of partition Walls 315 is shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 shows the mounting of the bottom screen wall 10 in the peripheralgroove of the Wheel body 7. The wall 10 overlies the partition walls 15and the radial passages 11.

The apparatus of my invention operates in the following manner:

At least a portion of shredded tobacco supplied by the endlesshorizontal feed belt 4, for example, in the form of a layer having awidth corresponding to the width of the forming channel 6 in the feedwheel 3, is drawn into the channel. This channel `6 is subjected to theaction of suction in the region of the suction chamber 13 extending overthe left-hand reversal point of the endless belt 4 and, therefore,tobacco is picked up by the rotating feed wheel 3.

Any tobacco projecting beyond the outer radial limit of the formingchannel 6 is taken off by the trimming device 23, for example, a combingroll, a brush or the like and, if desired, such trimmed-off excesstobacco is returned to the tobacco delivery point. After trimming, thereis situated in the forming channel 6 a tobacco rod of uniform andexactly predetermined cross section corresponding to the cross sectionalarea of the passage formed by the channel 6 and trimming device 23.During further rotation of the feed Wheel 3 over the range of thesuction air chamber 13, this tobacco rod is held by the action ofsuction in the forming channel 6. Just before the tobacco rod reachesthe transfer point in the area beneath the transfer means E, the suctionchamber 13 terminates so that the rod situated in the forming channel 6is no longer held. As soon as the rod passes into the range of action ofcompressed air flowing out of the bore 22 through the bottom screen wall10, it is forced out of the forming channel 6 and is passed to thetransfer means E Where it is subjected to the action of suctionprevailing in the suction chamber and effective through the perforatedbelt 14. Thus, no ybridge or scraper is required for transferring thetobacco rod. The parts of the bottom screen wall 10 of the formingchannel 6, when reaching during the rotation of the feed wheel 3 theregion of the compressed air chamber 14, are thoroughly cleaned of anyadhering tobacco residue by compressed air issuing from the chamber 14.Thereafter, such cleaned parts of the screen 10 again pass into theregion of the suction chamber 13 and the just described steps arerepeated.

The density of the tobacco rod cannot be influenced by the previouslydescribed means of varying the cross sectional area of the passagedefined jby the channel 6 and trimming device 23. In order to vary thedensity it is possible, for example, to increase suction in the suctionchamber 13 so that tobacco sucked into the forming channel 6 becomesmore compact. If the tobacco rod is to have a denser structure only incertain zones thereof, for example, when the apparatus is used for theproduction of cigarettes with compacted ends, suction may be increasedintermittently by known means in the suction chamber 13 (for example, bya valve in the suction conduit 19) to compact the tobacco intermittentlyin the channel 6. In such apparatus, the trimming device 23 should bemounted at any point along the periphery of the feed wheel 3 at whichthe suction exerts a compacting inuence on the t0- bacco rod. This can'be achieved .by removing the block 2lb from the suction chamber 13.

The production of a tobacco rod with spaced denser portions is alsopossible by utilizing a channel as shown in FIG. 4. This channel isprovided with pockets at appropriate distances from each other. iMoretobacco is sucked into such pockets than into the narrower parts of thechannel 6. Thus, the cigarette rod will have a denser structure atspaced points.

When the feed wheel 3 is used purely as a conveyor, or transfer means,the forming channel 6 is dimensioned in such a Way that it can receiveall of the tobacco from the belt 4, and a levelling or trimming device23 for removing excess tobacco is not required. In such apparatus, it isadvantageous to mount the conveyor belt 4 in a manner as shown in FIG.3. In the transfer region, the belt follows a portion of the peripheryof the feed Wheel 3 to press tobacco during transfer into the formingchannel 6 until the suction increases sufficiently to retain suchtobacco in the forming channel.

A measuring device can be disposed in the region of the feed wheel 3,especially in the suction chamber 13, so as to provide rays shown inbroken lines in FIGURE 8 and may serve to control any desired factorinuencing the rod y formation, for example, the tobacco delivery. It isnecessary to insure that the measured results are not iniiuenced or elseare influenced only in a manner that can easily be corrected bystructural parts projecting into the path of the rays. If, for example,the source of the rays is mounted in the suction chamber 13, then, andas shown diagrammatically in FIG. 8, the partitions 315 of the radialpassages 11 in the rotating wheel body 7 may be positioned non-radiallyso that the measuring rays originating from the radiation source andmasked by an axially extending slot constitute with respect to thepassing partitions 315 trajectories which are indicated Iby broken linesand each of which intersects the partitions 315 so that their resistanceis constant whatever the angular position. The radiation source could beso positioned that the rays penetrate the tobacco situated in theforming channel 6 in an axial direction.

Suitable measuring and control devices may be arranged to regulatesuction in the channel 6 of the feed wheel 3. Referring to FIG. 12, thesuction pipe 19 is provided with a nipple 38 whose opening may be closedby a pivotable ap 37. This flap 37 is pivotally attached to an adjustinglink 36 which in turn is actuated by an adjusting device 35. A measuringdevice 30 located adjacent to the belt 4 (FIG. 1) is connected by a line31 with a control device 32 (FIG. 12) which in turn is connected withcontrol lines 33 and 34 leading to the adjusting device 35.

During operation, the measuring device 30 detects any undesirablevariations in the tobacco stream and transmits electrical impulses tothe control device 32. In response to such impulses, the control device32 transmits an electrical signal to the adjusting device 35 whichthereupon imparts a mechanical motion to the adjusting link 36 so thatthe link adjusts the position of the ap 37, thereby increasing ordecreasing the rate of flow of outside air into the pipe 19 and hencedecreasing or increasing, respectively, the effect of suction in thechannel of the feed wheel 3 to an extent determined by the measuringde-vice 30.

Referring to FIG. 13, a ap 137 is centrally pivoted in the suction pipe19 and is connected yby a linkage 136:1 to an adjusting lever 136. Theoperation of this arrangement is similar to that of the arrangementshown in FIG. 12 excepting that the ilap 137, when operated by theadjusting device 35 through the adjusting lever 136 and linkage 136a,varies the resistance to the ow of suction to an extent determined bythe measuring device 30.

The measuring device 30 may also be mounted at any point along the pathof the cigarette rod.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for forming a continuous cigarette rod, a beltarranged to convey a stream of tobacco containing tobacco in excess ofthat required in the cigarette rod; a feed wheel having two side wallsforming an annular channel in the periphery of said wheel for receivingtobacco from said belt, and suction generating means for holding thetobacco so received in said channel While the tobacco travels with saidwheel through an angle of at least degrees; a trimming device adjacentto said channel and arranged to remove excess tobacco from the stream sothat the remainder of the stream forms a tobacco rod; and a rod formingmechanism for receiving the tobacco rod and enclosing the same in apaper strip to form a cigarette rod.

2. An apparatus for forming a continuous cigarette rod, comprising afirst conveyor for delivering a substantially uniform quantity ofshredded tobacco from a source of shredded tobacco at such a rate thatthe thus formed tobacco stream contains tobacco in excess of thatrequired in the cigarette rod; a second conveyor comprising a suctionwheel having a channel with a foraminous bottom wall extending aroundthe periphery of said wheel for receiving tobacco from said firstconveyor and for advancing tobacco through an angle of at least 90degrees; means for compacting the tobacco in said channel; a trimmingdevice for removing excess tobacco from said channel so that theremainder of tobacco forms a tobacco rod; and a rod forming mechanismfor forming the tobacco rod into a cigarette rod.

3. An apparatus for forming a continuous cigarette rod, comprising asource of shredded tobacco including a conveyor for continuously feedinga measured quantity of tobacco so that such tobacco forms a stream whichcontains tobacco in excess of that required in the cigarette rod; aWheel having a foraminous channel around the periphery thereof andpositioned to receive tobacco from said conveyor; a suction generatingdevice acting on said channel for retaining tobacco at the periphery ofsaid wheel through an angle of at least 90 degrees; a trimming devicefor removing excess tobacco from said channel;

and a rod forming mechanism for receiving the remainder of tobacco fromsaid channel and to form such tobacco into a cigarette rod.

4. A method of forming a cigarette rod which comprises continuouslyremoving a substantially uniform quantity of tobacco from a source oftobacco at a rate sufficient to form a tobacco stream which containstobacco in excess of that required in the cigarette rod; feeding thetobacco stream into an arcuate path and retaining the stream by suction;conveying the stream through an angle of it at least 90 degrees;removing excess tobacco from the stream in said path so that theremainder of tobacco forms a tobacco rod; and then wrapping the tobaccorod into a strip of paper to form a cigarette rod.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the tobacco stream is heldby suction while being conveyed in a vertical plane between theuppermost and lowermost points of the arcuate path.

6. An apparatus for forming a continuous cigarette rod, comprising asource of shredded cigarette tobacco including a first conveyor forfeeding continuously a substantially uniform quantity of tobacco; asecond conveyor including a suction wheel having a channel with aforaminous bottom extending around the periphery of said wheel forreceiving tobacco from said first conveyor and for advancing the tobaccothrough an angle of at least 90 degrees; a compactor for compactingtobacco in said channel; a trimming device for removing tobacco inexcess of a given amount from said channel; and a rod forming mechanismfor forming the tobacco remaining in said channel into a cigarette rod.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said wheel is mountedto rotate in a Vertical plane and wherein said channel has an uppermostpoint and a lowermost point, said first conveyor being arranged todeliver tobacco to said channel at one of said Points, and furthercomprising transfer means for removing tobacco remaining in said channelsubsequent to trimming at the other point of said channel so that thetobacco travels with said wheel through an angle of about 180 degrees.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, further comprising pneumaticejector means for removing from said channel all of the tobacco whichremains after trimming.

9. 'An Iapparatus as set forth in claim 8, further comprising means forregulating the suction in said channel.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim y6, further comprising means foradjusting the width of said channel.

11. An apparatus for `forming a continuous cigarette rod, comprising afeed for removing continuously a substantially uniform quantity oftobacco from a source of supply; a suction wheel having a channel withIa foraminous bottom extending around the periphery of said wheel forreceiving tobacco from said feed; a refuser for removing tobacco inexcess of a given amount from said channel; and rod forming mechanismfor forming the tobacco remaining in said channel into a cigarette rod.

12. 'An apparatus for making a continuous cigarette rod, comprising afirst conveyor arranged to feed a continuous stream of tobacco whichcontains tobacco in excess of that required in the cigarette rod; a rodforming mechanism comprising a belt having an upper run spaced from saidfirst conveyor; transfer means comprising a suction conveyor fortransferring tobacco from said rst conveyor directly onto said upperrun; a trimming device adjacent to one of said conveyors for removingexcess tobacco from and for thereby equalizing the stream so that saidrod forming mechanism receives an equalized tobacco stream; and meansfor feeding a strip of wrapping material upwardly between said rstconveyor and said rod forming mechanism and onto said upper run.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said suction conveyoris located above the path of tobacco from said first conveyor to saidupper run and comprises an endless foraminous belt having a lower runadjacent to the path of tobacco and a suction chamber adjacent to andlocated above said lower run.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said runs aresubstantially horizontal and wherein said first conveyor is a pneumaticconveyor.

15. In a cigarette rod making machine, a feed wheel mounted to rotateabout a horizontal axis, said feed wheel comprising a disk shaped bodyprovided at its circumference with an annular channel for receiving astream of tobacco, said annular channel having a perforated bottom wall,an annular chamber provided in said body concentrically with saidannular channel and open toward one side of said body, means forconnecting said annular chamber with said annular channel through saidbottom wall, a stationary cover adjacent to one side of said feed wheeland covering the open side of said annular chamber therein, stationaryblock members in said annular chamber for dividing said annular chamberinto separate compartments, means forming a suction chamber in saidcover and connecting the same with one of said compartments so as tosubject that portion of said annular chamber which is in communicationwith said one compartment to the influence of suction, said portion ofsaid annular chamber being adjacent to the upwardly moving portion ofsaid feed wheel and extending from the lower portion to the upperportion thereof, means forming an air pressure chamber in said cover andconnecting the sarne with the other one of said compartments so as tosubject that portion of said annular chamber which is in communicationwith sai-d other compartment to the inuence of air pressure, said lastnamed portion of said annular chamber being adjacent to the downwardlymoving portion of said feed wheel, and conveyor means for feeding atobacco stream to the lower portion of said feed wheel and into thatportion of said channel which is in communication with said suctionchamber.

16. In a cigarette rod making machine, a feed wheel mounted to `rotateabout a horizontal axis and comprising a disk shaped body having at itscircumference an annular channel having a series of circumferentiallyspaced portions of greated width and being arranged to receive a streamof tobacco, said channel having a perforated bottom wall, an annularchamber provided in said body, means for connecting said annular chamberwith said channel through said bottom wall, a stationary cover adjacentto one side of said feed wheel, stationary means in said annular chamberfor forming therein a substantially semicircular compartment, meansforming a suction chamber in said stationary cover and connecting thesame with said compartment so as to subject that portion of said channelwhich communicates with said cornpartment to the inuence of suction,said last named portion of said channel being adjacent to the upwardlymoving portion of said feed wheel and extending from the lower portionto the upper portion thereof, and conveyor means for feeding a tobaccostream to the lower portion of said feed wheel and into that portion ofsaid channel which is in communication with said suction chamber.

17. In a cigarette rod making machine, a feed wheel mounted to rotateabout a horizontal axis, said feed wheel comprising a disk shaped bodyprovided at its circumference with an annular channel for receiving astream of tobacco, said channel having a perforated bottom wall, anannular chamber provided in said body concentrically with said channeland open toward one side of the body, means for connecting said annularchamber with said channel through said bottom wall, a stationary coveradjacent to one side of said feed wheel and covering the open side ofsaid annular chamber, stationary block members in said annular chamberfor dividing said annular chamber into separate compartments, meansforming a suction chamber on said cover and connecting the same with oneof said compartments so as to subject that portion of said annularchamber which is in communication with said one compartment to theinuence of suction, said portion of said annular chamber being adjacentto the upwardly moving portion of said feed wheel and eX- tending fromthe lower portion to the upper portion thereof, means forming an airpressure chamber on said cover and connecting the same with the otherone of said compartments so as to subject that portion of said annularchamber which is in communication with said other compartment to theinfluence of air pressure, said last named portion of said annularchamber being adjacent to the downwardly moving portion of said feedwheel, one of said block members being arranged in the uppermost portionof said annular chamber and being provided with a bore, means forconnecting one end of said bore with said air pressure chamber, theother end of said bore being arranged to discharge compressed airthrough said bottom wall and into said annular channel for lifting thetobacco rod from said channel, and conveyor means for feeding a tobaccostream to the lower portion of said feed wheel and into that portion ofsaid channel which is in communication with said suction chamber.

18. In a cigarette rod making machine, a feed wheel mounted to rotateabout a horizontal axis and comprising a disk shaped body provided atits circumference with an annular channel for receiving a stream oftobacco, said channel having a perforated bottom wall, an annularchamber provided in said body concentrically with said annular channel,Ameans for connecting said annular chamber with said channel throughsaid bottom wall, a stationary cover adjacent to one side of said feedwheel, stationary means vin said annular chamber for forming asubstantially semicircular compartment in said annular chamber, meansforming a suction chamber in said cover and connecting the same withsaid compartment so as to subject that portion of said channel whichcornmunicates with said compartment to the influence of suction, saidportion of said channel being adjacent to the upwardly moving portion ofsaid feed wheel and extending from the lower portion to the upperportion thereof, conveyor means for feeding a tobacco stream to thelower -portion of said feed wheel and into that portion of said channelwhich is in communication with said suction chamber, and means forintermittently increasing and decreasing the suction in said suctionchamber.

19. In a cigarette rod making machine, a feed wheel mounted to rotateabout a horizontal axis and comprising a disk shaped body provided atits circumference with an annular channel for receiving a stream oftobacco, said channel having a perforated bottom wall, an annularchamber provided in said ybody concentrically with said annul'archannel, means for connecting said annular chamber with said channelthrough said bottom wall, a stationary cover adjacentto one side of saidfeed wheel, stationary means in said annular chamber for forming asubstantially semicircular compartment in said annular chamber, meansforming a suction chamber in said cover and connecting the same withsaid compartment so as to subject that portion of said channel whichcommunicates with said compartment to the influence of suction, saidportion of said channel being adjacent to the upwardly moving portion ofsaid feed wheel and extending from the lower portion to the upperportion thereof, conveyor means for feeding a tobacco stream to thelower portion of said feed wheel and into that portion of said channelwhich is in communication with said suction chamber, and trimming meansadapted to cooperate with the feed wheel to remove excess tobacco fromsaid channel during rotation of said feed wheel.

20. In a cigarette rod making machine, a feed wheel mounted to rotateabout a horizontal axis and comprising a disk shaped body provided atits circumference :with an annular channel for receiving a stream oftobacco, said channel having a perforated bottom wall, :an annularchamber provided in said body concentrically .=with said annularchannel, means for connecting said annular chamber with said channelthrough said bottom wall, a stationary cover adjacent to one side ofsaid feed fwheel, stationary means in said annular chamber for forming asubstantially semicircular compartment in said annular chamber, meansforming a suction cham- =ber in said cover and connecting the same withsaid :compartment so as to subject that portion of said chan- =nel whichcommunicates with said compartment to the influence of suction, saidportion of said channel being adjacent to the upwardly moving portion ofsaid feed wheel and extending from the lower portion to the upperportion thereof, and conveyor means for feeding :a tobacco stream to thelower portion of said feed wheel and into that portion of said channelwhich is in corn- =munication with said suction chamber, said conveyor=means comprising an endless belt a portion of which abuts against theperiphery of said feed wheel.

Y 21. In a cigarette rod making machine, a feed wheel =mounted to rotateabout a horizontal axis and comprising Pa disk shaped body provided atits circumference with an annular channel for receiving a stream oftobacco, said channel having a perforated bottom wall, an annulartchamber provided in said body concentrically with said annular channel,means for connecting said annular chamber with said channel through saidbottom wall, a stationary cover adjacent to one side of said feed wheel,stationary means in said annular chamber for forming a substantiallysemicircular compartment in said annular chamber, means forming asuction chamber in said cover and connecting the same with saidcompartment =so as to subject that portion of said channel whichcommunicates with said compartment to the influence of suction, saidportion of said channel being adjacent to the upwardly moving portion ofsaid feed wheel and extending from the lower portion to the upperportion thereof, conveyor means for feeding a tobacco stream to thelower portion of said feed wheel and into that portion of said channelwhich is n communication with said tsuction chamber, a perforatedendless belt having a lower 'run adjacent the discharge point of saidfeed wheel, and a suction chamber associated with said lower run toreceive the tobacco discharged by the feed wheel and to transfer thesame to the rod forming mechanism.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 231,947 9/1880 Allison. 1,393,52410/1921 Grupe 131-61 1,869,395 8/1932 Stelzer. 2,704,079 3/ 1955 Molinset al. 3,059,650 10/ 1962 Gamberini 131--66 3,088,468 5/ 1963 Labbe131-66 3,113,576 12/1963 Bell.

FOREIGN PATENTS 497,464 1/ 1930 Germany.

506,807 9/ 1930 Germany.

900,182 12/ 1953 Germany.

286,421 3/ 1928 Great Britain.

459,638 1/ 1937 Great Britain.

460,392 1/1937 Great Britain.

JOSEPH S. REICH, Prim-ary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 5131-21, 84,

